Abbreviations and meanings
For the purposes of these booking conditions Somme Battlefield Tours Ltd is abbreviated to 'SBT'. 'Tour' refers to both Self-Drive and Conducted Tours unless otherwise stated. The term 'you' refers to the person making the booking, and who has signed the form where indicated. 'Party' means those persons listed on the booking form (or attachment) on behalf of whom the you are making the booking.


How to book
Please telephone first to discuss your wishes and to obtain a quotation based on your chosen option(s). please complete the appropriate section of the booking form and return the form to SBT,  together with your tour deposit (£50 pp).  Please contact SBT should you require clarification on any aspect of the tours offered.  For conducted tours in particular, please telephone SBT for up to date availability as tours are strictly limited to a maximum of either 6 or 10 persons. Telephone reservations will be held for three working days.

No contract shall exist between SBT and you until the signed booking form has been received, the required deposit paid, and the booking is confirmed in writing by SBT (usually by return of post).

The Battlefield Guide (Somme and Ypres Self-Drive tours) will be forwarded on receipt of the final balance. Visitors to the Ypres battlefield will have the services of a registered guide made available to them by prior arrangement (subject to availability).

Payment

Deposit
A deposit of £50 per person is payable on booking either a conducted or Self-Drive tour.
Payments can be made either by credit card or by cheque.  Cheques/Postal Orders should be made payable to 'Somme Battlefield Tours Ltd Trust Account'.

Single supplement  (conducted tours only)
If you would like a single cabin and/or hotel room there is an additional £50 supplement.  If you are happy to share a cabin and twin hotel room with another tour member (of the same sex) then there is no extra charge - subject to such an arrangement being possible.  Please tick the appropriate box when booking.

Payments in US Dollars
Please base the exchange rate at the appropriated tourist rate as published at the time of payment in the Wall Street Journal. If paying in US dollars, an additional UK bank conversion charge of $15 per payment (ie both deposit and balance) applies. This charge does not apply if payment is made in Sterling.

Security of payments
In accordance with the provisions of the Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations 1992 (EEC Directive 90/314), all moneys paid to Somme Battlefield Tours Ltd., either as deposit or final settlement (including all credit card payments), will be held in a separate trust account (Barclays Bank Plc, Wimborne, Dorset a/c No. 40812048) and as such cannot be released to Somme Battlefield Tours Ltd. until the specified tour has taken place.  This regulation guarantees a full refund of all moneys paid in the most unlikely event of SBT failing to provide the tour booked.

Final balance
The outstanding balance is payable not less than six weeks prior to your date of departure.  Failure to comply with this provision may, at the discretion of SBT, be deemed to be a cancellation and therefore subject to the cancellation provisions detailed below.  Please contact SBT if late payment is likely as it may be possible to make alternative arrangements.

Cancellations
In the unlikely event of SBT having to cancel a tour for whatever reason (including a particular tour being undersubscribed), you will be informed as soon as possible.  You will have the choice of accepting either an alternative tour or having an immediate full refund of all moneys paid (including deposit).
Should it be necessary for either you or any member of your party to have to cancel a booking, then the person making the booking must notify SBT in writing. The cancellation will be effective from the date the written communication is received by SBT.

The following scale of cancellation charges shall apply (relative to date of departure):

More than 56 days tour deposit
56 - 28 days  30% of tour price
27 - 8 days  70% of tour price
8 - 14 days  75% of tour price
7 days or less  100% of tour price

'Force Majeure'
SBT accepts full responsibility for ensuring that the services it contracts to provide are to a reasonable standard, subject to the provisions of 'force majeure'.  This provision means that SBT does not accept liability for any damage, losses or additional expenses suffered by you or any member of your group, as the result of causes beyond the control of SBT such as war, riot, accident, civil strife, industrial dispute(s), crime, natural or nuclear disaster, disease, Acts of God, adverse weather conditions or similar occurrences. SBT will however do its utmost to minimise additional expenses in the unlikely event of such occurrences.


Travel insurance
Clients must be insured for travel to France, especially in respect of medical cover, as a condition of travelling with Somme Battlefield Tours (conducted tours only). Such insurance is also strongly recommended for those booking Self-Drive tours. This premium is not included in the tour price as it is appreciated that you may already have such insurance, or may wish to make your own insurance arrangements by shopping around for the best rate.


Tour party size (conducted tours)
Tour parties will be limited to a maximum of 6 persons (Somme & Ypres conducted tour) and 10 persons (Somme conducted tour).


Clothing (conducted tours)
We will be out and about whatever the weather so please bring wet weather clothing just in case.  As we shall be travelling by minibus to each location there will be no need to walk any great distance.
Casual clothing is quite acceptable for relaxing/dining in the hotel.


Passports
Travellers should ensure they are in possession of a valid full (ten year) passport.


Transport (Somme conducted tours)
As parties are deliberately kept small we are able to use either a 15 or 17 seat LDV or Transit minibus (Somme tour) or luxury 8-seat car (Ypres and Somme tour).  All vehicles are fitted with seat belts and forward facing seats. 
Please exercise great care when accessing/exiting the vehicle.  Seat belts should be worn at all times.  Please ask for help if in any doubt.

Please keep luggage as compact as possible as space is limited.


Pickup points (conducted tours)
The meeting point for Somme conducted tours is the P&O Ferry Terminal at Portsmouth, usually at 8.45pm on the date of departure(Monday).
Pickup points for the Somme/Ypres combined tours include central London, Ashford and Folkestone (Eurotunnel).
Clients living in the East Dorset  area can usually be picked up en-route. A door-to-door service is sometimes possible.


Accommodation
SBT uses hotels (and Guest Houses for Self-Drive tours to the Somme or Ypres battlefield) situated either on or very close to the battlefield, such as the in or close to the principal battlefield towns of Albert, Ypres and Verdun, rather than the larger, more impersonal hotels, used by some other tour operators some distance away.   All ferry cabins and hotel/guest house rooms have en-suite facilities unless otherwise stated. You will not be expected to share accommodation with persons not in your personal group unless you are travelling on your own and have elected to share a room with another person of the same sex (see details under heading 'Payment').


Meals (conducted tours)
The tour cost includes all meals whilst in France/Belgium, as well as breakfast on the outbound ferry crossing (Somme tour).  In addition, complimentary snacks/drinks etc. will be available all the time we are touring the battlefield and travelling to and from the ferry ports.


Smoking (conducted tours)
Clients are respectfully asked not to smoke in the vehicles.


Tour itinerary (conducted tours)
Please note that the tour itinerary is flexible and may be subject to change and/or variation .  It is sometimes necessary to make minor changes to accommodate factors beyond the control of Somme Battlefield Tours or to accommodate the particular wishes (within reason) of members of the tour group. Most often we are able to include additional sites of interest to those shown in the itinerary as time permits.


Self-Drive tour costs
SBT undertakes to arrange your ferry/tunnel travel, and bed and breakfast hotel/guest house accommodation.  SBT will provide you with a comprehensive tour pack as described in the accompanying literature. Clients visiting the Ypres battlefield will have the services of a registered guide made available by prior arrangement.
The tour cost does not include lunch and evening meal as experience has shown that travellers usually wish to have freedom of choice regarding where and what to eat, as opposed to being tied to a hotel.
The tour price does not include additional costs such as cabin/room upgrades, newspapers, telephone calls, additional food and beverages, wine/beers/spirits etc.